IFAW S. Africa: Prince Albert Sterilisation Project Swings into Gear

This post is provided by Christina Pretorius of the International Fund for Animal Welfare who will spend the next few days in the tiny village of Prince Albert, high in the snow- covered Swartberg Mountains of South Africa, to document this important sterilisation project.

UPDATE: 15 June 2010, update for the day

“Thrilled” doesn’t describe the good news that 68 dogs and cats were sterilised by IFAW’s team in Prince Albert today.

In addition, a woman arrived with a wild duiker (a very small antelope) which had been attacked by dogs on her farm. The team were able to treat the buck and it was sent home with the woman to recuperate on her farm.

It’s seven pm here in SA and the team are ready for a well earned break with a home cooked dinner courtesy of one of Prince Albert’s super generous residents.

Three cheers for the team!

JUNE 14: What a weekend! Years of anticipation erupted into a flurry of wild excitement in South Africa on Friday, when the Football World Cup 2010 finally opened in Johannesburg. And better still, minnows Bafana Bafana (the national side down here) held the fancied Mexican side to a one-all draw.

There was even more excitement as we put the final touches in place for members of IFAW Southern Africa’s dog and cat rescue team to trek 1,100 kilometres (687 miles) from Johannesburg and 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Cape Town to the tiny hamlet of Prince Albert in the Great Karoo district yesterday.

Our mission is to attempt to sterilise the entire dog and cat population of the desperately poor North End “township” community of Prince Albert.